Karl S. Fairbanks, Sr.
I was born in West Palm Beach on October 20, 1934 at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Family: Dad was an accountant, Mom stayed at home to raise 7 children, four boys and 3 girls. All of us attended Northboro and Palm Beach High. When I graduated from High School this ended a time frame of 26 years that my family had attended schools in West Palm Beach.
After graduating from High School I worked two years for Bell Bakery in West Palm Beach as a salesman.
I entered the Air Force at Parks AFB, CA. in June 1955 and this is where I took Basic Training. After Basic Training I was assigned to Amarillo, AFB, TX for Aircraft Mechanic Training. Upon completion of this school, I was assigned to Okinawa for a two year tour of duty. My next assignment was Forbes AFB, KS. This was a short tour of duty as I volunteered for an assignment to Bitburg AB, Germany. This tour lasted four years and I was able to see many countries in Europe. My next duty station was Amarillo AFB, TX as a Technical Instructor teaching Aircraft Mechanics to new recruits. Amarillo AFB closed and I was assigned to Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC. While in North Carolina, I applied for C-130 Flight Engineer�s training and was reassigned to Forbes AFB, KS. This tour of duty was for approximately seven years. Being assigned to a C-130 Squadron meant I was gone all the time. Our deployments station were Mildenhall, UK, Frankfurt, Germany, Panama, Canal Zone, and several bases in the US. In the middle of this 7 year period I had a 15 month tour to Clark AB, Philippines as a Field Training School instructor. Even though I was a classroom Instructor, I still managed to schedule my time so I could do two week deployments to Viet Nam. My flying time in Viet Nam earned me 35 Air Medals. After 18 months I went back to Forbes AFB and resigned from flying to become a First Sergeant. Forbes AFB closed in July 1973 and I went to Davis-Mothan AFB, AZ. This was my last duty assignment and this was my memorable assignment because the last two years there I had the privileged to start an NCO Leadership School and become its first Commandant. I retired February 1, 1979 after serving 24 years on Active Duty. I retired as a Chief Master Sergeant.
I married Marcella Hartley June 2, 1956 and we had two children, Karl JR (1958) and Kelly (1959). Marcella was my Junior and High School sweetheart and we just celebrated 46 years of marriage. Our son, Karl JR is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and our Daughter is a graduate of Washburn University in Topeka, KS. Karl works for Boeing in Seattle as Computer Scientist. Karl has two girls and Kelly has two boys. Kelly resides in Lynchburg, VA. Kelly has had numerous vocations, teaching, banking, County Waste Management Manager and volunteer work.
While in the Air Force I obtained an Associate Degree from the Community College of the Air Force and a BS from Western Illinois University. Marcella got an Associate Degree from Palm Beach Junior College and her BED from Washburn University, Topeka, KS.
January 1989 after retiring from the Air Force we went to Jeddah Saudi Arabia for eight and half years. The first two and half years I worked for Lockheed International as a C-130 Aircraft Systems Instructor to Saudi Pilots and Flight Engineers. The next six years I worked for Saudi Arabian Airlines as a B-707 and B-737 systems instructor for Pilots and Flight Engineers.
While is Jeddah Saudi Arabia we did some traveling. When I was with Lockheed International we went to Kenya, Africa, Athens, Greece, and Egypt. We had Karl and Kelly meet us in Cairo, Egypt for a 10 day tour. When I went to work for Saudi Arabian Airlines, we continued our traveling to such countries as Jordan, Cyprus, Germany, England, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Katmandu, Nepal. Marcella made a quick trip to Karachi, Pakistan, and Seoul, Korea to shop.
We returned from Saudi Arabia August 1987 and opened our own business, Mail Boxes ETC. After three and half year we sold the business and I went back to work for H & R Block as a Tax Professional and Office Manager. I now have a total of thirteen years with H & R Block; two of these thirteen years were in Tucson, AZ and eleven in Jacksonville, FL. I only work four months out of the year.
The rest of the year we travel around the United States in our motor home. The longest trip that we have taken was to Alaska with an RV Group sponsored by Camping World President�s Club. By the time we got back home we had driven 17,000 miles in three months. The Alaskan tour was only 38 days. The tour started from Dawson Creek, British Columbia and ended at Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Now we only take 30 to 45 days or less on trips around the United States. June 2000 we attended a one week trip to the Great North American RV Rally in Gillette, WY. There were 4500 RV�s and approximately 12,000 people at this rally. The number of people attending this rally was equivalent to half the population of Gillette.
We have attended two of Marion Ard Whitehurst mini class reunions. One in Clayton, GA at the Dillard House and the Mountain Lunch � Spring 2002 at the Keowee Sailing Club near Clemson, SC. These were great gatherings.
We hope to continue to travel around the US. If the good Lord is willing we will be at the 50th Class Reunion.
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